The Importance of Being Earnest

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Critics

• 'The Importance of Being Earnest' by Oscar Wilde

  I had seen a film version of this play a couple of years ago (the 2002 version starring Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Frances O'Connor, Reese Witherspoon and Judi Dench) and I remember laughing out loud at a lot of it. But seeing the words in black-an ... (read full critics)

  readingmatters published on Tue, 28 Sep 2010

• The Two Oscar Wildes

  At the climax of Oscar Wilde’s comic masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest, we learn that a baby has been mistaken for a book. Until that improbable revelation, however, the play—Wilde’s wicked exposé of the artificiality of conventional moral ... (read full critics)

  nybooks published on Sat, 21 Aug 2010

18 Reviews

• 4 people find this helpful

  

  A trivial comedy for serious people

  Divertentissimo!!

  I have only been married once. That was in consequence of a misunderstanding between my-self and a young person.

  -I really don't see anything romantic in proposing.It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may b ... (continue)

  Divertentissimo!!

  I have only been married once. That was in consequence of a misunderstanding between my-self and a young person.

  -I really don't see anything romantic in proposing.It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. If ever I get married, I'll certainly try to forget the fact.
  - I have no doubt about that, dear Alvy. The Divorce Court was specially invented for people whose memories are so curiously constituted.

  A man who marries without knowing Bunbury has a very tedious time of it.

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  Giulia Irene said on Nov 20, 2009 | 2 feedbacks

• 2 people find this helpful

  

  That is the first time I read one of Wilde's work and I found it really amusing! I have to say that not being an anglophone penalised me a bit as some phrases, terms or idioms were not fully comprehensible to me; however I believe I have understood most part of the comedy.
  And I have to say that it ... (continue)

  That is the first time I read one of Wilde's work and I found it really amusing! I have to say that not being an anglophone penalised me a bit as some phrases, terms or idioms were not fully comprehensible to me; however I believe I have understood most part of the comedy.
  And I have to say that it was not only entertaining but I found in it some interesting ideas and points of view previously unknown to me!
  I will gladly read some other Wilde's plays or novels!

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  Scipio said on Jan 7, 2012 | Add your feedback

• 2 people find this helpful

  

  Oscar Wilde's wittism is irresistible. This play I think is the most readable and entertaining and contains many of his famous quotes.

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  Mayng504 said on Oct 14, 2007 | Add your feedback

• 

  Una commedia divertente e spassosa, si legge in inglese con molta facilità!

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  Mr Irvin said on Feb 5, 2012 | Add your feedback

• Read this to prepare for the play I'm about to watch in February 2012.
  An interesting read packed with oxymorons and cynicism.

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  Ochya said on Jan 6, 2012 | Add your feedback

• 1 person find this helpful

  

  «He has nothing, but he looks everything. What more can one desire?»

  In una parola: frizzante. Non ricordavo che Wilde fosse così divertente, e neanche che fosse così piacevole da leggere (ma immagino che una commedia debba essere per forza di cose più scorrevole di un racconto o di un romanzo).

  A chi si trovasse in dubbio su quale traduzione italiana scegliere lo c ... (continue)

  In una parola: frizzante. Non ricordavo che Wilde fosse così divertente, e neanche che fosse così piacevole da leggere (ma immagino che una commedia debba essere per forza di cose più scorrevole di un racconto o di un romanzo).

  A chi si trovasse in dubbio su quale traduzione italiana scegliere lo consiglio direttamente in inglese. A parte la difficoltà nel rendere il gioco di parole earnest-Ernest (anche se per me la soluzione migliore è giocare su onesto-Ernesto), nonostante abbia più di cent'anni ha un linguaggio molto moderno e accessibile.

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  Eustachio said on Jan 2, 2012 about the eBook edition | 2 feedbacks

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Book Details

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• English Books
• Paperback 80 Pages
• ISBN-10: 0140621725
• ISBN-13: 9780140621723
• Publisher: Penguin (Popular Classics)
• Pub date: Jan 01, 1995
• Dimensions: 1097 mm x 710 mm x 65 mm Just how big is that?
• Also available as: Mass Market Paperback, Hardcover, Audio CD, Audio Cassette, Library Binding, School & Library Binding, Softcover, Others and eBook
• In other languages: other languages Libros en Español, Libri Italiani

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• MOVIEWORM (18)
• The Collective (144)
• Let's Read Together (5)
• England England (1192)

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